While a few of these lawmakers-turned-lobbyists were leaders in the House or Senate, such as former Democratic Senator Tom Daschle or Republican Representative Dick Armey, many were back-benchers who kept a low profile during their time in office. But laying low did not prevent these ex-legislators from learning the ropes of the Legislative Branch of government, and allowing them to now peddle their knowledge of and connections to Capitol Hill to special interests.

 

Texas has the most members of what TPMMuckraker calls the “Shadow Congress,” with 17, followed by New York (14) and Pennsylvania (11).

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

SHADOW CONGRESS: More Than 170 Former Lawmakers Ply the Corridors of Power as Lobbyists (by Justin Elliott and Zachary Roth, TPMMuckraker)

Shadow Congress (Talking Points Memo)